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Altai Mountains / Steep skiing in Siberia by Daniel Ladurner & Co

In April 2018 Daniel Ladurner, Klaus Gruber, Michael Sinn, Wolfgang Hell and Lukas Schäfer scored a series of interesting ski descents in the Altai massif of Siberia.

On 7 April the skiers Daniel Ladurner, Klaus Gruber, Michael Sinn, Wolfgang Hell and filmmaker Lukas Schäfer flew to Gorno Altaysk, the capital of the Republic of Altaj in order to explore the Altai mountains in souther Siberia. After having continued with a 6x6 military transporter to the small village Kuray they reached the Aktru glacier where they established Base Camp.

Battling against strong winds up to 130 km/h, temperatures down to -30°C and copious snowfall, during the ensuing fortnights they ascended and skied a series of interesting summits and couloirs.

Ladurner told planetmountain "It snowed continuously for four days, during up to 90cm each day. As a result we had to make just the right decisions to chose routes which were relatively safe. Every day we were greeted with the barren, wild Siberian glaciers as well as wild summits and amazing views. The highlight of our adventure was the ascent of 4044m high Mt. Aktru, one of the highest peaks in the Altai massif. We ascended via what may be a new route on the South Face, before making a first descent down the impressive, 1000 m high and 50° steep, North Face." Other highlights Kiziltash Peak 3550 m South couloir (1100 m) Stagerov Peak 3720 m NW Face Upi Peak 3840 m NW Face (650 m)